German-speaking social and health ministers want to work more closely together on measures against poverty and the climate crisis – 2024-05-01 07:32:19

Unity at a two-day informal meeting in Dürnstein

Vienna (OTS) – The social and health ministers from Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Switzerland want to work more closely together to combat poverty and take action against the climate crisis. At a two-day informal meeting in Dürnstein, they agreed to a close exchange of information, expertise and best practice examples. In addition, research gaps should be closed and data collection improved, according to the joint final declaration of the meeting. ****

The social and health ministers of the five German-speaking countries met in the Wachau on Monday and Tuesday (April 29th and 30th) for their annual informal meeting. The agenda of this so-called “social and health quintet” included the further development of the welfare state and measures for greater climate protection in the health care system. The conclusion today, Tuesday, is a visit to the St. Pölten University Hospital, which has already implemented a large number of climate protection measures.

The social and health ministers discussed intensively measures to combat poverty. What is needed here is a variety of measures across departmental boundaries, “which must be provided with concrete targets and appropriate resources,” the participants noted. The pillars of poverty reduction include measures for “long-term employment participation of all population groups”, early support and education for children, transfer payments and high-quality “services of general interest” – such as education, health and care.

The second important topic was measures against the climate crisis, which influences both the shape of the welfare state and people’s health. The health sector alone contributes up to 7 percent to CO2 emissions in the five countries. “We know that existing social inequalities are being exacerbated by the climate crisis and that the climate crisis is therefore also a social crisis,” says the final declaration. Therefore, combating the climate crisis must be thought of together with social and health policy.

The social and health ministers want to work more closely together both in the area of ​​fighting poverty and in climate protection measures. “The problems are similar in all German-speaking countries, we can learn from each other here,” emphasizes Social Affairs Minister Johannes Rauch. He thanked him for the “intense, open and friendly discussions”. Federal Councilor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (Switzerland), Minister Martine Deprez (Luxembourg), Government Councilor Manuel Frick (Liechtenstein) and the two German State Secretaries Rolf Schmachtenberg (Ministry of Social Affairs) and Edgar Franke (Ministry of Health) traveled to the two-day meeting.

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